If there was any doubt that the pressure has lifted from the South Africansquad, it was instantly erased on Friday morning when practice ahead ofSaturday’s sixth one-day international in Trinidad consisted almost entirelyof a game of touch rugby

Marcus Prior11-May-2001If there was any doubt that the pressure has lifted from the South Africansquad, it was instantly erased on Friday morning when practice ahead ofSaturday’s sixth one-day international in Trinidad consisted almost entirelyof a game of touch rugby.The South Africans have waited a long time on this tour for anopportunity to unwind and enjoy the Caribbean, and after over two months ofintense physical and mental effort, the last final two ‘dead’ one-day gamesrepresent a chance to rotate and experiment – properly.Captain Shaun Pollock admitted as much after the win in Barbados whichgave South Africa an unassailable 4-1 lead in the series.”The nice thing is we can give guys opportunities in decent positions,”Pollock said. “To play someone and bat him at eight isn’t really rotationbecause he’s not going to learn much, but in the next few games there may bea chance for some of the guys to take on new roles and we can have a look athow they perform.”The most obvious move is to give the likes of Justin Kemp and JustinOntong a chance to impress with the bat. Both have performed creditablyenough as bowlers, but the two young all-rounders form a major part of SouthAfrica’s long-term plans for the 2003 World Cup, and early exposure tobatting responsibility at the highest level is now a priority for theselectors. Ontong has had one innings (12 in the first game in Jamaica),Kemp has yet to make it to the middle.No surprises then that Ontong and Kemp were the two players to stay onafter touch rugby for a session of throw-downs with coach Graeme Ford andassistant coach Corrie van Zyl.Expect Paul Adams and Andre Nel to get a first run-out of the series inthe next two games – both have waited patiently for their chance and aresure to be rewarded with the series now won.Other options include a promotion up the order for vice-captain MarkBoucher who has had no chance to prove his form with the bat. That has notbeen an issue for Pollock, but the best efforts of the captain to capitaliseon the way he is hitting the ball – including promotions to number six andthen number five – have all been thwarted by the way the top order hasplayed and the emphatic margins of victory in the last four games.Experiment they will, but as ever with South Africa, the thirst forvictory will be undiminished. West Indies captain Carl Hooper said earlierin the series that he would like to rotate the options in his side, but thatthere simply were not the players available. South Africa’s embarrassment ofriches could hardly stand in greater contrast.